Tephrosia virginiana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cracca latidens
- Cracca viginiana
- Tephrosia latidens
- Tephrosia virginiana var. glabra
- Tephrosia virginiana var. holosericea
- Phonetic Spelling
- tef-ROH-see-uh vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The common names tell its history. Goat's Rue was fed to goats to increase milk production. It is no longer used as a feed for goats due to it containing rotenone which is now used as a pesticide. It is also used as fish poison, which is produced by pounding the roots. Another common name, Devil's Shoestring, refers to its long stringy roots.
This member of the pea family has upright to sprawling stems. It is native to dry, open woods, and best grown from seed as its deep root system makes dividing and transplanting rarely successful.
The flowers resemble bi-colored sweet pea, lemon-yellow to rose. Its upper petals and pale yellow, while the lower petals are pink. It begins to bloom in the spring and continues into the summer. After the flowers have bloomed, seed pods are formed. They can reach lengths of 3".
Growing this plant will add nitrogen to your soil.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Toxic to insects and fish.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tephrosia
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Us and Canada
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, KA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, BC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus) larvae, which has two broods (possibly three) from June-early October, and Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) larvae, which broods a little earlier than May-July. The adults of these butterflies feed on the nectar of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers from a variety of species. Attracts butterflies, bees, moths, and birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Not edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The seedpods replace the flowers. Starting out green, they will turn brown. Displays from July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The 0.75 in. flowers have a yellow standard petal often flushed with pink and a rose-pink keel. They bloom in clusters from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The green/gray-green leaves have 8 to 15 pairs of leaflets. They are covered with soft white hairs that give them a silvery tone. The underside has more hair than the upper leaf.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Like the foliage, the upright, sprawling stems are covered with soft white hairs that give them a silvery tone.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
